Crib strcuture



July 9, 1963 L. SOKOL CRIB STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 9, 1960 IN VENTOR. [e0JoAo/ United States Patent On ice 3,096,860 Patented July 9, 19633,096,860 CRIB STRUCTURE Leo Sokol, Columbus, Nebr. Filed Dec. 9, 1960,Ser. No. 74,882 2 Claims. (Cl. 189-3) This invention relates to acrib-like structure, and more particularly to a corn crib.

The object of the invention is to provide a crib which is adapted to beused for various purposes such as for holding corn, and wherein the cribof the present invention is constructed from 'or made from a pluralityof interfitting, interlocking panels or sections that are constructedand joined together by an improved and highly efficient retaining orlocking mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a corn crib which isconstructed so that it will have increased strength, and wherein thepanels can be readily hooked together or disengaged as desired orrequired, the corn crib including a generally cyclindrical wall portionwhich will withstand pressures exerted thereagainst and wherein theusual strains that are encountered in such constructions will not causethe parts to move out of their proper assembled position.

Another object is to minimize labor expenses incident to the building ofsuch structures and wherein the present invention includes parts thatcan be readily assembled or disassembled so that the construction willpermit or insure that there will be a minimum of errors productive ofwasted labor and material in the use of the structure, and wherein thepanels used for making the crib can be utilized speedily and withprecision by even inexperienced operators or workmen.

Further objects and advantages are to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof in 'a device of the character described that iseconomical to produce, durable in form, and conducive to the mosteconomical use of materials and uniformity of members formed therefrom.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from thesubsequent description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a corn crib constructed accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational View showing the connection betweenadjacent panels.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the panels.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a panel which is to beinterfitted or interlocked with the panel of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the locking pins orrods for connecting the panels together.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the locking of thepanels together.

FIG. 7 is a sectional View taken on the line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a corncrib constructed according to the present invention, and the crib 10 maybe supported on a suitable base 12, and as shown in the drawings thecrib 10 includes a cone-shaped roof 11 as well as a generallycyclindrical side wall portion which is indicated by the numeral 13.

The side wall portion 13 is adapted to be made from a plurality ofsimilar interfitting and interlocking panels which are each indicatedgenerally by the numeral 14, and each of the panels 14 comprises aplurality of horizontally disposed spaced parallel cross members 15.Each cross member 15 is shaped to include an arcuate or curved main bodyportion 16, and each cross member 15 is provided with transverse endportions 17. As shown in the drawings the transverse end portions 17 ofeach cross member 15 extend in opposite directions with respect to eachother, and the junction between the transverse end portion and the mainbody portion defines a shoulder which is indicated by the numeral 18,for a purpose to be later described.

As shown in FIG. 7 for example, when the panels are interfitted orinterlocked, the shoulders 18 of one panel are in opposed relation withrespect to the shoulders 18 of the adjacent panel, and there is providedor defined a space 20 therebetween whereby vertically disposed rods orpins 19 can be extended through these registering spaces 21 Each panel14 further includes a vertically disposed first strand 21 which issecured as by welding to all of the transverse end portions 17 of aparticular panel 14, and these strands 21 are arranged adjacent theouter ends or edges of the tranverse end portions 17, as for example asshown in FIG. 3.

Each panel further includes vertically disposed second strands 22 whichare secured as by welding to the main body portions 16 of each of thecross members of a particular panel, and when the panels are interfittedand interlocked, these strands will engage each other as for example asshown in FIG. 7.

Each panel further includes a plurality of spaced parallel verticallydisposed elements 23, and these vertical elements 23 are secured as bywelding to all of the horizontally disposed cross members 15 or aparticular panel 14.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a cribstructure which is adapted to be used for various purposes such as forholding corn therein, and it is to be noted that a crib such as the crib10 consists of a cylindrical wall portion 13 as well as the roof 11, andthe present invention is directed to the means for constructing thecylindrical wall portion 13, and this means consists of a plurality ofsimilar panels 14 that are interfitted and interlocked together.

The panels 14 each include a plurality of horizontally disposed similarcross members 15, and each member 15 embodies an arcuate or curved mainbody portion 16 as well as oppositely extending angula-rly arrangedtransverse end portions 17, and the vertically disposed strands 21 and22 are secured as by welding to the panels as previously stated. Whenusing the panels, adjacent end portions of contiguous panes areinterfitted so that for example the parts can be moved from a positionsuch as that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to a position such as that shown inFIG. 7 whereby the shoulders 18 of one panel will be in opposed relationwith respect to the shoulders 18 of the contiguous panel so that a space2%) will be defined therebetween for receiving a vertically disposedretaining pin or rod 19. With the parts in assembled position of FIG. 7,the strands 21 of one panel will abut the strands 22 of the interfittedor interlocked panel, and vice versa whereby these strands will preventaccidental shifting or movement of the parts from their proper assembledposition as shown in FIG. 7, due to the arrangement and construction ofthese strands in conjunction with the other members such as the rods 19.The panels 14 further each include the plurality of vertically disposedelements 23 which are secured as by Welding to the cross members 15, sothat the completed structure will have a mesh-like formation in order tomaintain material such as the corn in the crib.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different sizes asdesired or required.

An important aspect or feature of the present invention is theconnecting joint on the mesh fabric-like corn crib, as for example asshown in FIG. 7. The assembled crib may be provided with 2 x 6 openingmesh, and every cross wire makes a joint, and as previously stated thepanels have the two vertical wires or strands 21 and 22 thereon, andthese strands or wires interlock when the parts are assembled orinterfitted together. The ends of each cross member are extended inopposite directions with respect to each other, and all of the verticalmem hers and horizontal members are welded together to form a meshpanel. When the panels are to be separated or disconnected, the rods 19can be removed and the rods 19 are the only means by which the panelsare held together.

It will therefore be seen that there has been provided a hinged typecorn crib wherein the rods slide quickly into place so that the panelscan be locked into an unbroken cylinder of mesh-like formation, and withthe present invention a corn crib can be made easily and quickly so thata permanent corn crib can readily be erected at low cost, as for exampleat a cost below that of many temporary cribs. In addition a cribconstructed according to the present invention can be made of a suitablematerial such as steel, and the crib will have the necessary strength toperform its desired functions, and the material for making the crib mayhave anti-rust characteristics. Due to the provision of the hinged typejoint panel connections, the panels can be quickly hooked together andlocked with the rods so as to create an unbroken cylinder of steel meshwhich will have the ability to withstand pressures and strains in excessof other types of cribs. A suitable door opening can be provided for thecrib as desired or required. The roof 11 can be suitably attached to theupper end of the crib, and this roof may have an overhanging lowerportion for increased protection, and the roof may be made of heavygauge metal so as to give the hinged type corn crib roof strength towithstand high winds and hold heavy snow falls or the like. In additionthe roof may be provided with a top cap and half panel on the roof whichcan be removed for easy filling.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

What is claimed is:

1. In a crib, a generally cylindrical Wall portion embodying a pluralityof similar interlocking interfitted panels, each of said panelscomprising a plurality of horizontally disposedspaced parallel crossmembers, each of said cross members including a main body portion ofarcuate formation, each cross member further including transverse endportions which are arranged angularly with respect to said main bodyportion, the transverse end portions of each cross member extending inopposite directions with respect to each other, the junction between thetransverse end portions and the main body portions defining shoulders,the shoulders of each panel being arranged in alignment with respect toeach other,

and wherein when the panels are interfitted together, the shoulders onone panel will be in opposed relation with respect to the shoulders ofan adjacent interfitting panel, vertically disposed rods extendingthrough the spaces defined between opposed shoulders; first and secondvertically disposed strands arranged on opposite sides of the shouldersand said strands being secured to said transverse end portions and tosaid main body portions, and a plurality of vertically disposed elementssecured to said main body portions, one set of vertically disposedshoulder strands being on the outside of a panel and the other on itsinner side, and wherein when the panels are interfitted, the first andsecond strands of one panel will abut the second and first strandsrespectively of an adjacent panel.

,2. A corn crib comprising a cylindrical wall portion consisting of aplurality of similar panels releasably joined together, each of saidpanels comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed vertically spacedparallel cross members, each including a main body portion of arcuateformation, each cross;member further including transverse end portionswhich are arranged angularly with respect to said main body portionwhereby there is defined shoulders at the junction of the transverse endportions and main body portion, the transverse end portions of eachcross member extending in opposite directions with respect to eachother, and wherein when the panels are assembled together, oppositelyextending transverse end portions of adjacent cross members will bearranged in a generally criss-cross relation with respect to each other,and wherein there will be provided a space between opposed shoulders ofinterfitting cross members, vertically disposed rods extending throughthe spaces between the shoulders of interfitting cross members, a firstvertically disposed strand secured to all of the transverse end portionsof a panel adjacent the outer edges of the transverse end portions, asecond vertically disposed strand secured to the main body portions ofthe cross members and said second strand being spaced inwardly from saidshoulders, one set of vertically disposed shoulder strands being on theoutside of a panel and the other on its inner side, and whereby when thepanels are interfitted, the first and second strands of one panel willabut the second and first strands respectively of an adjacent panel, anda plurality of spaced parallel vertically disposed elements secured toall of the horizontally disposed cross members of a panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,796,156 Harberts June 18, 1957

1. IN A CRIB, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL WALL PORTION EMBODYING A PLURALITYOF SIMILAR INTERLOCKING INTERFITTED PANELS, EACH OF SAID PANELSCOMPRISING A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SPACED PARALLEL CROSSMEMBERS, EACH OF SAID CROSS MEMBERS INCLUDING A MAIN BODY PORTION OFARCUATE FORMATION, EACH CROSS MEMBER FURTHER INCLUDING TRANVERSE ENDPORTIONS WHICH ARE ARRANGED ANGULARLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID MAIN BODYPORTION, THE TRANSVERSE END PORTIONS OF EACH CROSS MEMBER EXTENDING INOPPOSITE DIRECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, THE JUNCTION BETWEEN THETRANSVERSE END PORTIONS AND THE MAIN BODY PORTIONS DEFINING SHOULDERS,THE SHOULDERS OF EACH PANEL BEING ARRANGED IN ALIGNMENT WITH RESPECT TOEACH OTHER, AND WHEREIN WHEN THE PANELS ARE INTERFITTED TOGETHER, THESHOULDERS ON ONE PANEL WILL BE IN OPPOSED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO THESHOULDERS OF AN ADJACENT INTERFITTING PANEL, VERTICALLY DISPOSED RODSEXTENDING THROUGH THE SPACES DEFINED BETWEEN OPPOSED SHOULDERS; FIRSTAND SECOND VERTICALLY DISPOSED STRANDS ARRANGED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THESHOULDERS AND SAID STRANDS BEING SECURED TO SAID TRANSVERSE END PORTIONSAND TO SAID MAIN BODY PORTIONS, AND A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY DISPOSEDELEMENTS SECURED TO SAID MAIN BODY PORTIONS, ONE SET OF VERTICALLYDISPOSED SHOULDER STRANDS BEING ON THE OUTSIDE OF A PANEL AND THE OTHERON ITS INNER SIDE, AND WHEREIN WHEN THE PANELS ARE INTERFITTED, THEFIRST AND SECOND STRANDS OF ONE PANEL WILL ABUT THE SECOND AND FIRSTSTRANDS RESPECTIVELY OF AN ADJACENT PANEL.